Aerial View of Valdez, AK after 1964 Tsunami

U.S. Department of the Interior

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Aerial view of Valdez, Alaska, showing the extent of inundation along the coastline. The town of Valdez was situated on the edge of an outwash delta about 150 km from the generating area. During the earthquake, the shaking caused failure of the unstable, water-saturated material. A slice of the delta, approximately 1,220 m long and 183 m wide, slid into the sea and carried the dock area and portions of the town with it. The slide generated a wave which slammed into the waterfront within two to three minutes of the onset of the earthquake. This wave demolished what was left of the waterfront facilities, caused the loss of the fishing fleet, and penetrated about two blocks into the town. Valdez had $15 million in property damage, and 30 fatalities.

The earthquake was one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on the North American Continent. It was a magnitude 8.4 earthquake, felt over 500,000 square miles. This great earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 125 lives (tsunami 110, earthquake 15).